Welcome back to another season of fantasy hockey at Dobber! With the NHL season in full swing, it's time for another weekly fantasy dive. In this column, whether you are scanning the waiver wire for possible adds or scouring the trade market to improve your team, we have the information you need. Managers, let’s look ahead at the upcoming weeks in fantasy hockey.

Fantasy Hockey Player Outlook

Who can be had on the waiver wire, and who should you avoid picking up? Check out the fantasy hockey players’ outlook for the upcoming week.

*Note: All stats are courtesy of Frozen Tools

Mid-Season Adds (Claim these players on the waiver wire)

Fraser Minten, C, Boston Bruins, Rostered-38.6%

Fraser Minten signed a major deal in the offseason that seemed a bit rich at first glance. However, early signs this season point to Minten becoming a legitimate top-six two-way centreman. The Maple Leafs will regret moving on from him so soon, while fantasy managers should look to add him as quickly as possible.

Jack Quinn, RW, Buffalo Sabres, Rostered-48.1%

Jack Quinn is one of many young players on the Sabres roster who are looking to take the next step in their development. Early signs this season point to Quinn having legitimate 30-goal, 70-point upside. He has become one of the driving forces on the Buffalo offense, filling the role once held by J.J Peterka before he was dealt.

Young Players to Build Off (Young players who are hot right now)

Zach Benson, LW, Buffalo Sabres, Rostered-13.7%

Following a season that saw him manage 43 points in 65 games to go along with a successful playoff run, Zach Benson is off to a strong start to his 2026-27 campaign. He's already managed six assists in ten games. Once the goals start to follow, he will be a sought-after asset on the free agent market for fantasy buyers.

Easton Cowan, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs, Rostered-36.4%

Easton Cowan started the season on the third line but has continued to climb the lineup due to his play. He had only 29 points in his rookie season but has already managed 11 in 12 games this year. His hot start has him fourth on the Maple Leafs in points behind only Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Kirill Marchenko. While most eyes were on rookie Gavin McKenna to begin the year, they have now shifted to Cowan.

Steer Clear (Players you should avoid in fantasy leagues, or sell immediately if you own them)

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Jacob Fowler, G, Montreal Canadiens, Rostered-23%

Jakub Dobes' weak start to the season, coupled with the injury to Samuel Montembeault, has left the reins of the Canadiens crease to young Jacob Fowler. For his part, Fowler has looked sharp to start the season. However, don't expect Dobes' poor start to continue for long. Once he returns to form and Montembeault is back from injury, it's unclear if Fowler will remain in the NHL. He's a solid short-term fantasy option but don't anticipate him being a reliable one in the long run.

Porter Martone, RW, Philadelphia Flyers, Rostered-29.6%

Much like the rest of the Flyers lineup, Porter Martone has struggled to begin the season. While the team has turned things around as of late, the same can't be said for the Flyers rookie who has just one goal and three points thus far. Much was expected of Martone after his early success during the team’s playoff push, but it appears he's still adjusting to the NHL level.

Buy Now Players (You should trade for these players as soon as possible)

Alex Tuch, RW, Washington Capitals, Rostered-98%

Some players take time to adapt to a new team, but that hasn't been the case for Alex Tuch, who has been brilliant to begin his Capitals career. He already has five goals on the year and has taken a big role on the team’s top line. He's a player who could get hot and pot 40 goals this season. Managers should look to trade for him as soon as possible.

Brock Nelson, C, Colorado Avalanche, Rostered-90%

With names like Nathan Mackinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas on the roster, it's easy to forget about a veteran player like Brock Nelson. But all he has done since joining the Avalanche is score. He has eight points in 10 games despite not getting first-unit power-play time. He centers one of the best second lines in the NHL between Gabriel Landeskog and Nazem Kadri, so his production at even strength will make up for the lack of power-play opportunity.

NHL Team Outlooks

Now, let's analyze the upcoming week’s schedule to see which NHL teams are expected to have a strong week and who will be in tough. Which teams’ players should you be buying stock in, and which teams should you avoid at all costs? Take a peek at the NHL team outlook for the upcoming week.

*Note: This week’s analysis covers the period of Oct 23-29. The weekly fantasy matchup runs from Oct 26-1. Teams that play more games during the week/matchup often gain more favor in the schedule analysis.

Matchup Favorites (Players from these teams will pay dividends in the coming games.)

Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames are on a hot streak? After starting the season 0-6, they've rattled off wins in three of their last four contests. While it's unlikely that they'll escape the basement of the league, their favorable schedule ahead could lead to a few more wins in the near future.

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Los Angeles Kings

Much like Calgary, Los Angeles has had a poor start to the season with just two wins on their record. The hope is that they can rebound on their upcoming road trip and get back in the playoff picture.

Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild are taking a trip through the Pacific Division, which has been a favorable venture for most teams over the past year. They are already a top-10 team in the standings, and their upcoming schedule should only cement that.

Matchup Killers (Avoid players from these teams at all costs in the upcoming games.)

New York Rangers

The Rangers have had an unexpectedly strong start to the season despite moving on from Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. However, Igor Shesterkin is now out for the year. To make matters worse, their upcoming schedule won't be doing them any favors.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh has been hit with the injury bug early on to several key players like Bryan Rust and Ben Kindel. With a thin upcoming schedule, don't expect the Penguins to pay dividends in the near future.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay has gotten off to a strong start to their season as they sit near the top of a loaded Atlantic Division. Unfortunately, a thin schedule ahead won't allow fantasy managers to take advantage of all the talent the team possesses.